🏗️ Columbus State Wants To Trade A Parking Lot For A YMCA

Plus: 📚 This Adult Book Fair Is The Nostalgia Trip We’ve Been Waiting For

Author

Chelsea Wiley
August 29, 2025

Sponsored by the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 🖖
Boldly go where no exhibition has gone before. Star Trek & Worlds Beyond has beamed into the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, showcasing 150+ iconic props, costumes, and artifacts from the Star Trek universe, and beyond. This weekend is your last chance to see phasers, Starfleet gear, and Uhura’s legendary earpiece up close. On view through Aug 31. Learn more at decartsohio.org.

Hello, Friday! Chelsea here.

It’s a packed weekend, Columbus. It’s Labor Day weekend, there are some yummy food-based festivals, Ohio State’s first home game, and there are plenty of reasons to be out and about. But while fans are tailgating and cheering on the Buckeyes, students at Columbus State are looking ahead to a different kind of excitement: a proposed YMCA right on campus. The plan would trade a surface parking lot for a 50,000-square-foot facility with fitness spaces, courts, a track, a pool, and even drop-in child care for student parents. You can read more about it, and see renderings of the proposed facility, at the link below.

📚 This Adult Book Fair Is The Nostalgia Trip We’ve Been Waiting For
Remember blowing your allowance at the book fair? It’s back, but this time with beer. The Adult Book Fair lands at Land-Grant in a couple of weeks, and trust us, your tote bag won’t leave empty.

⚾️ Play Ball! The Ohio Cup Is Bringing Vintage Baseball To Columbus
Step back in time at the Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival, this weekend in Westerville. Free to watch and family-friendly, it’s baseball with vintage uniforms, wooden bats, and plenty of old-school charm.

Headlines 📰 

📱 Ohio schools are enforcing a new phone ban during the school day. Supporters say it keeps students focused, while some parents worry about safety and staying in touch during emergencies. (NBC4)

🏘️ After decades of vacancy, two historic Dublin buildings are coming alive. Uncorked Wine Tastings and Apothecary Bourbon and Cigar Bar open next week, complete with craft cocktails, cigars, and a shared backyard for sipping and mingling. (Columbus Monthly)

☕️ Details continue to emerge about the sudden closure of Parable Cafe and employees say the warning signs were there for months: late and missed paychecks, confusing management changes, and a culture that went from transparent to radio silence. Staff are now sharing their story and crowdfunding to cover lost wages. (Matter News)

☀️ Weather: 76 and sunny

Sponsored by Germania Singing & Sport Society 🍺
Raise your stein! Germania’s 68th Oktoberfest hits September 19-21 with live German bands, bratwurst, craft beers, dancing, and the US Steinholding State Qualifier. Come for the music, stay for the polka, and celebrate Columbus’ oldest Oktoberfest. Prost! Click here for more info.

Coming Up 📆

Today's Photo 🤳

☀️ Have a beautiful Friday, Columbus. And don’t forget, OSU has a home game tomorrow, so prepare accordingly. 👍

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- Chelsea